Cajun Shrimp Taco Bowls (Printable)

A vibrant bowl with spicy shrimp, fluffy rice, fresh veggies, and creamy avocado for a satisfying meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Shrimp

01 - 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 ½ tsp Cajun seasoning
04 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
05 - ¼ tsp salt
06 - ¼ tsp black pepper
07 - 1 clove garlic, minced

→ Rice

08 - 1 cup long-grain white rice
09 - 2 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth
10 - ½ tsp salt

→ Vegetable Toppings

11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, frozen, or drained canned)
13 - ½ small red onion, thinly sliced
14 - 1 cup shredded lettuce
15 - 1 avocado, sliced
16 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

→ Sauce

17 - ⅓ cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
18 - 1 tbsp lime juice
19 - ½ tsp hot sauce (optional)
20 - Salt and pepper, to taste

→ For Serving

21 - 1 lime, cut into wedges

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Combine rice, water or broth, and ½ teaspoon salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until tender. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork.
02 - Whisk sour cream or Greek yogurt with lime juice, optional hot sauce, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
03 - Pat shrimp dry, then toss with olive oil, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic until well coated.
04 - Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook 2–3 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove from heat.
05 - While shrimp cooks, prepare cherry tomatoes, corn, red onion, lettuce, avocado, and cilantro.
06 - Divide rice evenly among four bowls. Top each with shrimp, vegetables, avocado, and cilantro. Drizzle with creamy lime sauce and serve with lime wedges.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in under twenty minutes, so you can eat well even when you're tired.
  • The creamy lime sauce cools down the heat just enough to keep you going back for more.
  • You can swap toppings based on what's in your fridge and it still tastes vibrant and complete.
02 -
  • Do not overcook the shrimp or they turn rubbery, pull them the second they turn opaque and let carryover heat finish the job.
  • If your Cajun seasoning is very salty, skip the extra salt in the shrimp marinade and taste before adding more.
  • Let the rice rest covered after cooking so it doesn't turn gummy or stick to the bottom of the pan.
03 -
  • Use a cast iron skillet if you have one, the high heat sears the shrimp beautifully and adds a little char.
  • Squeeze lime juice over the shrimp right before serving for a bright, acidic punch that wakes up every bite.
  • If your avocado isn't ripe, leave it out rather than serving hard slices, the bowl is still delicious without it.
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